Summary

  • The death toll in Italy jumps to 463 as much of the country's north starts the week under quarantine

  • Trading in US shares is briefly suspended after sharp falls over an oil row and ongoing coronavirus fears

  • Six people die during a prison riot over visitor restrictions in the north Italian city of Modena

  • Israel is to ask everyone arriving in the country to self-quarantine for 14 days

  • Germany confirms its first two deaths from coronavirus, both in North Rhine-Westphalia

  • It is now accepted the virus will spread in a "significant way" in the UK, a spokesman for the PM says

  • China has 40 new cases of Covid-19, the lowest since January when reporting began

  • Foreign diplomats finally allowed to leave Pyongyang after long quarantine

  1. Swedish central bank official 'tests positive'published at 13:31 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2020

    The deputy governor of the Swedish central bank, Martin Floden, has tested positive for coronavirus, a bank spokeswoman is quoted by Reuters news agency as saying.

  2. Virus will spread in UK in a 'significant way'published at 13:13 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2020

    The UK remains in the containment phase of the government's four-part plan to tackle the spread of the coronavirus, external, but it is now "accepted" the virus will spread in a "significant way", a spokesman for Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said.

    Mr Johnson chaired an emergency Cobra meeting today and discussed a range of steps which could be introduced to contain and delay coronavirus, the spokesman added.

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  3. Riots break out in 27 Italian jailspublished at 13:06 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2020

    Prisoners at the roof of the San Vittore prison in Milan, northern ItalyImage source, EPA

    Prison authorities in Italy now say protests have broken out in 27 jails against restrictions imposed to tackle the coronavirus outbreak.

    The trouble began in the northern city of Modena, after inmates were told that visits were being suspended.

    Italian media reported six deaths there, some drugs-related.

    About 20 prisoners broke out of prison in Foggia in the south, along with another 32 who were quickly recaptured.

    At the San Vittore prison in Milan, inmates climbed onto the roof of the facility, setting ablaze one of the six wings.

  4. France-Ireland Six Nations rugby match postponedpublished at 12:51 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2020

    France-Ireland Six Nations rugby match in 2019Image source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    Reuters

    Saturday's Six Nations rugby match between France and Ireland in Paris has been postponed, French Sports Minister Roxana Mărăcineanu has announced.

    She did not say whether a new date would be set for Les Bleus' final game in this year's tournament.

    It is the most high-profile sporting event in France so far to be hit by the coronavirus outbreak.

  5. British Airways and easyJet cancel Northern Italy flightspublished at 12:44 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2020

    British Airways has suspended more flights to Italy after the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) changed its travel advice for the north of the country, advising against all but essential travel to areas affected by coronavirus.

    Flights to and from Milan Malpensa, Milan Linate, Bergamot and Venice are suspended until at least 3 April.

    The airline says it is contacting customers who will be able to change their flight free of charge or get a full refund. Customers are advised to check ba.com for the latest information.

    EasyJet said it would be reviewing its routes to Milan Malpensa, Milan Linate, Venice and Verona airports from now until 3 April.

    "In the short term we will be cancelling a number of flights to and from these destinations on Monday 9 March," the airline said.

  6. Grandmother going 'stir crazy' on Grand Princess cruise shippublished at 12:36 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2020

    Margaret Bartlett has been isolated in a cabin for five daysImage source, FAMILY HANDOUT
    Image caption,

    Margaret Bartlett has been isolated in a cabin for five days

    A 77-year-old grandmother has said she is going "stir crazy" on board a coronavirus-hit cruise ship.

    Margaret Bartlett is one of 140 Britons on the Grand Princess, which has been barred from docking in California after 21 people tested positive.

    The ship is due to arrive in Oakland on Monday and Mrs Bartlett, from Burnley, said it was "terrible" on board and they have "rotten food".

    A passenger who was staying 10 cabins away from Mrs Bartlett has died.

    You can read the full story here.

  7. 'No touch' policy for Philippines President Dutertepublished at 12:27 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2020

    Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte. File photoImage source, Reuters

    From now on well-wishers will not be allowed to touch Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte to protect him from the coronavirus, his security detail have announced.

    "The PSG [Presidential Security Group] will implement a no-touch policy between the president and the public," group commander Jesus Durante said in a statement.

    "Personalities who are expected to get near [him] will be thoroughly screened," he added.

    At 74, President Duterte is considered to be in a vulnerable age group.

    The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the Philippines doubled to 20 on Monday.

    One patient has died: a man who had traveled to the country from the Chinese city of Wuhan, where the outbreak originated late last year.

  8. UK government needs to 'get a grip' on coronaviruspublished at 12:23 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2020

    Labour's Shadow Chancellor John McDonnellImage source, Pool
    Image caption,

    Labour's Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell criticised the government's response to coronavirus

    Labour Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell has criticised the UK Government's response to Coronavirus.

    In a speech ahead of Wednesday's Budget, Mr McDonnell said: “I regret that we have not seen that leadership, commitment, indeed political, diplomatic and indeed managerial ability from either the prime minister or the chancellor.

    "I just say gently, someone needs to get a grip.”

    Mr McDonnell criticised the "tardiness" of Chancellor Rishi Sunak's statements about what the government will do to help protect the national and global economy, as the coronavirus continues to impact businesses and market confidence.

    He insisted Mr Sunak should have made clear 10 days ago that the government stood ready to "do everything necessary to support our economy and to participate in global action to maintain market confidence".

  9. Pakistani man sues ex-wife over coronavirus accusationpublished at 12:14 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2020

    M Ilyas Khan
    BBC News, Islamabad

    A man in Multan, Pakistan, has served his ex-wife with a legal notice for damages worth more than $60,000 for wrongly accusing him of being infected with coronavirus.

    Mohammad Umar Iqbal, who recently returned from China, had to spend two weeks under medical observation on a court order but was found to be healthy.

    He claimed his ex-wife Zainab Bukhari wanted to prevent him from meeting the couple’s minor son who lives with his mother.

    She said she feared that her child could get the infection from his father.

  10. Iran releases 70,000 prisonerspublished at 12:06 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2020

    BBC Monitoring
    The world through its media

    Iran has temporarily released 70,000 prisoners in a bid to contain coronavirus in the country.

    Mizan news agency quoted judiciary chief Ebrahim Raisi as saying: "It is necessary for the temporary release of prisoners to continue... so long as it does not create insecurity in society."

    He said that priority would be given to prisoners who face greater risks as a result of pre-existing health conditions.

    The head of the country's Prisons Organisation stressed that "health conditions are completely under control".

  11. Situation in Italian city is 'unnerving'published at 11:47 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2020

    Greg Foster, a British man who lives in Matera, southern Italy, told the BBC that the situation there is "unnerving".

    "The mayor has shut down all large entertainment venues, like wedding venues and concert halls, and many professional offices and studios are closing their doors," Mr Foster said.

    "Restaurants have put rules on the door stating you have to wash your hands, stand a metre away from each other and you cannot make physical contact.

    People are questioning whether it's a good idea for businesses to be open but people still have bills to pay.

    "There's a lot of tension. It's all very unnerving."

    With 366 deaths now confirmed, Italy is the worst-hit country in the world after China.

    The city of Matera is close to the Mediterranean coast in the south of the country, and hundreds of kilometres from the northern exclusion zone.

  12. Why should I care if share prices fall?published at 11:39 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2020

    A trader wearing a headset looks exasperatedImage source, REUTERS
    Image caption,

    Traders are affected by stock market falls, but so are you

    Big shifts in the stock market are often in the news, whether they are booms in the US or falls due to the coronavirus or the financial crisis.

    As companies grow, they issue shares.

    The largest companies in the UK have shares which are bought and sold on the London Stock Exchange.

    Their collective performance is often quoted amid a blizzard of numbers that may feel confusing and irrelevant.

    Rarely does anyone mention during a coffee with friends that the FTSE 100 has dropped well below 7,000 points.

    But there are good reasons why this performance affects your life and finances.

    You can read the full explainer here.

  13. Ministers arrive for UK emergency meetingpublished at 11:33 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2020

    Health Secretary Matt Hancock arrives for the Cobra meeting with UK chief medical adviser Prof Chris WhittyImage source, PA Media
    Image caption,

    Health Secretary Matt Hancock arrives for the Cobra meeting with UK chief medical adviser Prof Chris Whitty

    Ministers have been arriving at Whitehall for an emergency Cobra meeting about coronavirus.

    The prime minister is chairing the meeting to decide whether to bring in measures to delay the spread of coronavirus in the UK.

    UK chief medical adviser Professor Chris Whitty arrived at the meeting with Health Secretary Matt Hancock but did not answer reporters' questions.

    The meeting is expected to consider whether "social distancing" measures should be phased in.

    These could include banning big events, closing schools and encouraging home working.

    It comes after a man in his 60s became the UK's third death linked to Covid-19.

  14. Paris' Louvre museum restricts entrypublished at 11:30 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2020

    The Louvre museum in Paris is restricting entry because of coronavirus fears.

    Only people who have reserved online or are allowed free entry will be allowed to visit.

    Last week, the Louvre closed for two days after staff refused to work because of the outbreak.

    The French government banned all public gatherings of more than 1,000 people late on Sunday.

    Christian Galani of the CGT labour union told AFP news agency: "The Louvre is a confined space which welcomes more than 5,000 people a day. There is real concern on the part of staff."

    More than 9.6 million people visited the Louvre last year.

    Louvre museum in ParisImage source, Getty Images
  15. Asian World Cup qualifying matches cancelledpublished at 11:22 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2020

    Fifa and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have announced the cancellation of qualifying matches for the 2022 World Cup in March and June due to the coronavirus.

    The games were scheduled for 23-31 March and 1-9 June.

    A statement from Fifa said, external: "Fifa and the AFC will continue to assess the situation in relation to Covid-19 and will decide whether further changes to the schedule of Asian Fifa World Cup 2022 qualifiers are required, always with the aim of protecting the safety and health of all individuals involved."

  16. Olympic torch lighting ceremony to be staged without spectatorspublished at 11:07 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2020

    The lighting ceremony for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics torch-lighting ceremony in ancient Olympia, Greece, will be staged without spectators, the Olympic Committee confirmed on Monday.

    The ceremony will take place on 12 March, before a seven-day relay that will culminate with a handover ceremony.

    Last week, Japan's Olympic minister said the Tokyo 2020 Games could be postponed from the summer until later in the year amid fears over the coronavirus outbreak.

    The Games are due to be held from 24 July to 9 August.

    Japan 2020 Olympic torchImage source, Reuters
  17. Iran coronavirus death toll rises to 237published at 11:02 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2020

    The death toll from coronavirus infections in Iran has risen to 237, a spokesman for the country's health ministry said.

    As of 9 March, there have been 7,161 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the country. 2,394 patients have recovered so far.

  18. More on the Italy prison riotpublished at 10:57 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2020

    Earlier on we mentioned a riot in Modena prison where six people died. Here's some more information on the incident.

    The riot started on Sunday when sixty inmates set the prison on fire in an attempt to escape, according to Corriere de Bologna. They had been told that relatives and friends were banned from visiting due to the lockdown.

    Law enforcement officers managed to stop 500 prisoners from escaping.

    However, some were able to raid the infirmary for methadone and other drugs, a source told the Corriere Della Sera., external

    Authorities are investigating the incident.

    Police stand guard at entrance to Modena prisonImage source, AFP
    Image caption,

    Police have struggled to contain the riots

  19. Two more cases confirmed in Walespublished at 10:52 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2020

    Two new new cases have been confirmed in Wales, bringing the total number to six.

    The two people, who do not know each other, recently travelled back to Wales from different parts of Italy.

    Public Health Wales says the pair are being "managed in a clinically appropriate setting".

  20. Veteran UK newsman comes out of self-isolationpublished at 10:49 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2020

    Channel 4 news presenter Jon Snow announces his return.

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